Semiprecious stones have been crafted into beads since early civilization. Formed when minerals were caught in cooling rocks and created veins, they are extracted from the rock by mining. The human need for beauty and self-adornment is as old as civilization itself. The belief in the magical properties of the stones used in adornment –attributes of peace, protection, and healing–is also ancient.

Semiprecious stones have been assigned to birth months, used as amulets and traded as currency as well as adornment in jewelry; and many are believed to have therapeutic properties which pass to the wearer. Gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are rarely drilled to make beads as this detracts from there worth.

The stones and clays from which our beads are formed come from the mysterious depths of the earth all over the world. But whatever the varied geographical or geological origin of these beautiful, tactile objects—they bring a common delight to our eyes, our minds —and our souls.

Disclaimer:

The information regarding the metaphysical and other properties and purposes of minerals are provided for entertainment and inspirational purposes only. In no way is it intended for diagnosing illness, prescription, or advice and should not replace proper medical attention. Consult your Doctor or other health care practitioner regarding health issues. Creative Bead Designs is not liable for any use or misuse of this information.

Abalone

Abalones are members of a large class (Gastropoda) of molluscs having one-piece shells. They belong to the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis, which means sea ear, referring to the flattened shape of the shell. Abalone shells are rounded or oval with a large dome towards one end. The shell has a row of respiratory pores. Nine species of abalone occur in North America: black (H. cracherodii), flat (H. walallensis), green (H. fulgens), pink (H. corrugata), pinto (H. kamtschatkana), red (H. rufescens), threaded (H. assimilis), Western Atlantic (H. pourtalesii), and white (H. sorenseni) abalone.

Abalone is reported by intuitive sources to stimulates psychic development and intuition, and promotes imagination in a healthy way. Abalone is associated with the first three chakras.

Aegerine

This beautiful tabular crystal came from Zomba, Malawi in Africa. It has a beautiful smoky gemmy clarity. Wrapped around one side of the crystal is another - a child crystal with a time link. It is hugging the other so closely, that you must look very carefully to see where one begins and the other ends. This is a wonderful crystal to show us that we can connect to our inner child at any time because it is and always will be a part of us. Most of the Aegerine crystals have gathered at its base both in and out of the crystal.

Aegerine is a high energy stone that is often used for energizing. It protects against psychic attacks and negative energy.

Agate (General, All Types)

No gemstone is more creatively striped by nature than agate, chalecedony quartz that forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of colors and textures. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. As a result, agate often is found as a round nodule, with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk. The bands sometimes look like eyes, sometimes fanciful scallops, or even a landscape with dendrite trees. WEARABILITY* Excellent

Agate was highly valued as a talisman or amulet in ancient times. It was said to quench thirst and protect from fevers. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms. Agate is good protective energy stone, especially for children, and is very calming and soothing. It also can help strengthen the body's connection to the earth. It can give courage, energy, strength, and dispels fears, all of which increase self-confidence.

Agate, Blue Lace

Blue Lace Agate: Blue lace agate is a beautiful, pale sky blue stone with concentric markings. It is a cryptocrystalline quartz stone. Agate is a banded chalcedony, the bands having been formed by rhythmic crystallization. Agates are found as nodules or geodes in siliceous volcanic rocks. This stone comes from southwest Africa.

Agate strengthens the power of the Sun in your astrological sign when you wear it. It helps you stay well-balanced. It sharpens the sight, illuminates the mind and helps you speak. Blue lace agate helps you develop and realize your inner peace. These stones affect the physical body, first at the densest levels, and then at the levels of some of the higher bodies as well.

Agate, Botswana

Botswana Agate, gets its name from the only known source of this beautiful and interesting gemstone--Botswana, Africa. A beautiful and valued agate. Botswana Agate is considered favorable to those who work with plants, trees and around water as it is thought to draw positive energies from them.

Considered an excellent feminine power stone. Thought to help bring focus on solutions and work through emotional suppressions while enhancing creativity.

Thought to counteract all manner of poisons, including emotional and spiritual poisoning.

Agate, Moss

Moss agate is a semi-precious gemstone formed from Silica. It is a form of Agate which includes minerals of a green colour embedded in the Chalcedony forming filaments and other patterns suggestive of moss. The field is a clear or milky-whitequartz, and the included minerals are mainly oxides of manganese or iron.

Despite its name, moss agate does not contain organic matter and is usually formed from weathered volcanic rocks.

Moss agate is sometimes called the "gardener's stone" due to its properties of helping ensure a full crop. In addition to a full crop, moss agate brings general abundance, success, and prosperity. It can also help one gain peace with extreme or excessive duties in life and brings self-confidence and higher self-esteem. Moss agate is also a protective stone, as are all agates.

Ajoite

Ajoite is highly prized by mineral collectors for it's intense blue/green coloring and also for it's metaphysical properties. Ajoite was first found identified at Ajo in Arizona where it was discovered by the Papago Indians and highly valued as a bringer of purity and peace. This is a stone that produces a sense of peace which harmonizes the emotional body. Ajoite will assist in release of sorrow, anger and fear. It is wonderful if you seek to heal old wounds or find compassion and it assists in connection to Inner self, Higher Self and All That Is. It helps open one up the boundless potential that exists in each one of us.

Amazonite

The name is taken from that of the Amazon River, from which certain green stones were formerly obtained, but it is doubtful whether green feldspar occurs in the Amazon area.

Amazonite is a mineral of limited occurrence. Formerly it was obtained almost exclusively from the area of Miyask in the IImen Mountains, 50 miles southwest of Chehabinsk, Russia, where it occurs in granitic rocks. More recently, high-quality crystals have been obtained from Pike's Peak, Colorado, where it is found associated with smoky quartz, orthoclase, and albite, in a coarse granite, or pegmatite. Some other localities in the United States yield amazonite, and it is also found in Pegmatite in Madagascar.

It is said to enhance intuition, psychic powers, creativity, intellect, and psychic ability. Amazonite is often associated with the throat chakra, and as such, can be beneficial to communication.

Amber

Amber is a fossil resin much used for the manufacture of ornamental objects. Although not mineralized it is sometimes considered and used as a gemstone. Most of the world's amber is in the range of 30–90 million years old.

Amethyst is a violet or purple variety of quartz often used as an ornament The name is generally said to be derived from the Greek a, "not," and methuskein, "to intoxicate," expressing the old belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkeness. It was held that wine drunk out of a cup of amethyst would not intoxicate. However, the word may probably be a corruption of an Oriental name for the stone.

Amethyst has long been called the "sobriety stone." In ancient Rome, crushed amethyst was added to wine cups to prevent drunkenness. It is said to assist with healing alcoholism, compulsive behaviors, and addictions of all kinds. Amethyst brings energies of stability, peace, calm, balance, courage and inner strength. It has been used to protect against psychic attacks. On the spiritual level, amethyst can help open to communication with angels, telepathy and other psychic abilities. It is an excellent stone for meditation or dream work, past life work, and can help you see your path. It has also been used to help ease the pain of grief, and promote happiness.

Amethyst, Chevron (also known as Banded Amethyst)

Chevron amethyst combines the strengthening and enhancing qualities of quartz with the stress relieving qualities of amethyst.

Ametrine

Ametrine, also known as Trystine, is a naturally occurring variety of quartz. It is a mixture of Amethyst and Citrine with zones of purple and yellow or orange. Almost all commercially available ametrine is mined in Bolivia, although there are deposits being exploited inBrazil and India.

Ametrine energies are said to stimulate the intellect and rid the aura of negative energy. It also has the basic properties of both the amethyst and the citrine that comprise it.

Ammolite

Ammolite is a rare and valuable Opal-like organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls. It is one of the three biogenic gemstones, the other two being amber and pearl. In 1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewelry Confederation, the same year commercial mining of ammolite began. In 2004 it was designated the official gemstone of the Province of Alberta.

Ammolite is fossilized ammonite that has been compressed under great pressure beneath the ground, which is what gives it its wonderful colors. Ammolite is said to radiate positive Earth energy, and to bring good luck and prosperity. It is also said to grant miracles. Ammolite is excellent as a tool for deep meditation. Ammolite is also used mystically for general good health, stamina and high energy.

Andalusite

Andalusite is a common metamorphic mineral which forms under high pressure and/or temperature. The minerals kyanite and sillimanite are polymorphs of andalusite, each occurring under different temperature-pressure regimes and are therefore rarely found together in the same rock. Because of this the three minerals are a useful tool to help identify the pressure-temperature paths of the host rock in which they are found.

Andalusite is sometimes called "The Seeing Stone" because it is used in metaphysical works to calmly see the various parts of one's character without bias.

Angel Aura Quartz (aka Opal Aura, Rainbow Aura, Pearl Aura)

Angel Aura Quartz is quartz that is permanently treated by fusing platinum and/or silver crystals with heat and vacuum to give it its gorgeous angelic coloring. Mystical lore counts It a stone of high spiritual energy. It is said that it is very helpful to the aura which it can protect, balance, and bring energetic health.

Angelite(Blue Anhydrite)

The color of light-blue angelite relates it to the fifth (throat) chakra, which governs communication.

Each of the blue and blue-green stones is associated with particular forms of communication. Turquoise helps one to enroll people in partnership for the achievement of goals and dreams. Aquamarine helps us to express our deepest spiritual truths.

Angelite is believed to be helpful in telepathic communication. If two people wished to be connected in that way while they were physically apart, they could each carry pieces of angelite. (This connection would be even deeper if the stones were programmed for that purpose.) As its name suggests, it helps in communication with angels. You can also use it to connect with your animal spirit guides.

Angelite is one of the light-blue stones associated with the healing of anger. When we think of anger as a disconnection from others, it makes sense that a communication stone would help to heal relationships, not only with others, but also with oneself.

Angel Wing (Alunite)

Angel Wing (Alunite) - Angel Wing is a stone that can help balance yin/yang, physical and emotional energies as well as environmental energies, bringing unbalanced or dysfunctional energies into harmony. Because of this, angel wing has a stabilizing and grounding effect.

Apache Tear

Apache tears are a kind of nodular obsidian (volcanic black glass). When polished, it is opaque to nearly translucent. The color ranges from brown to black. The Legend of the Apache Tear is this:

One day a party of Apache Indians was ambushed by an enemy tribe. The Apaches fought bravely but were greatly outnumbered and driven to the top of a high bluff. Their arrows gone and unable to fight and unwilling to be taken captive, they leapt from the cliffs to their death. Their women were understandably grief-stricken and wept over the bodies. Their teardrops froze when they hit the ground to become the lovely stones we know today as Apache Tears. It is said that whomever owns one of these stones will never cry again, for the Apache women shed enough tears already.

Apache Tears are said to especially relieve grief and sadness as well as assisting in giving and accepting forgiveness.

Apatite

Apatite is a stone that mystically can stimulate the thoughts and ideas. It is said to increase intellect, imagination, and intuitive awareness. As a meditation or awareness tool It is said to help you maintain focus, learn, concentrate effectively, think clearly, and communicate better. Apatite can be used to enhance the energies of other crystals and stones. WEARABILITY* Very Good

SPECIAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS Avoid rough handling.

Apophyllite

The name apophyllite refers to a specific group of phyllosilicate minerals, a class of minerals that also includes the micas. Originally, the group name referred to a specific mineral, but was redefined in 1978 to stand for a class of minerals of similar chemical makeup that comprise a solid solution series, and includes the members fluorapophyllite, hydroxyapophyllite, natroapophyllite, and the very rare carletonite.

Apophyllite is an aid to meditation and helps make a conscious connection with the spiritual world.

Aqua Aura (Aqua Aura Quartz)

Aqua Aura Quartz Crystals are created by taking natural quartz crystal formations and infusing them with pure Gold creating an immensely powerful protection combination which fuses the White, Blue and Gold Rays into an iridescent display of Light.

Aqua aura is quartz that is gold infused by taking 12 hours to heat the quartz to 1600F while setting a vacuum equal to 2 earth atmospheres, then letting chemically purified gold vapors into the chamber when the temperature and vacuum are correct. This bonds the gold to the lattice of the crystal, forming a permanent bond to the surface of the quartz and giving it an electric blue color.

Aqua Aura is an outstanding tool for people wishing to increase their psychic skills and awareness. Aqua Aura assists with meditation, telepathy, and psychic healing by bringing more intense energy to the effort.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine (Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is a gemstone -quality transparent variety ofberyl, having a delicate blue or bluish-green colour, suggestive of the tint of sea-water. It's closely related to emerald.

It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. The gem-gravels of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine. Clear yellow beryl, such as occurs in Brazil, is sometimes called aquamarine chrysolite. When corundum presents the bluish tint of typical aquamarine, it is often termed Oriental aquamarine.

Aquamarine is metaphysically known as a stone of courage and fortitude. It is said to assist with quick intellectual response.

Aragonite

Aragonite is a carbonate mineral, a polymorph of the mineral calcite, both having the chemical composition CaCO3. Its structure differs from calcite and leads to a different crystal shape, an orthorhombic system with acicular crystals

Aragonite increases energy, in particular it increases the energy of prayers and magick charms. Metaphysically is it said to boost self-confidence and feelings of self-worth. Diminishes anger and relieving stress are other metaphysical . Aragonite is professed by mystical lore to be beneficial for chronic fatigue, hair loss.

Aventurine (Green)

Aventurine is a form of quartz, characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral occlusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence. The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue or gray.

Aventurine is said to benefit one in all areas of creativity, and imagination, as well as intellect and mental clarity. Lore says that it enhances prosperity and brings career success. It is a gentle stone energetically that gives a sense of calm and balance and enhances happiness. It also helps one to see alternatives and potentials in all situations, giving a positive outlook, courage and inner strength. It is also said to bring luck, especially in games of chance. Green aventurine is also a mystical stone of prosperity. Aventurine bring friendship to one's life. It is also a stone of protection energies. Folklore and metaphysical lore say that physically it is beneficial for blood, circulatory system, headaches, general health, and sleep disorders. Aventurine is associated with the heart chakra.

Aventurine, Peach

Peach aventurine gently increases the energy of the sacral chakra. It helps with decision making and can boost creativity. Physically it is beneficial for the lungs, heart, adrenal glands and urogenital system.

Azurite

Azurite is a carbonatemineral with chemical composition Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, (copper carbonate hydroxide). Azurite is often found in association with the green mineral malachite as a result of the weathering and oxidation of copper sulfide minerals.

The name azurite comes from the Arabic word for blue. Azurite is used in jewelry and also collected as a beautiful mineral specimen.

Azurite is called the "stone of heaven." It aids in developing psychic awareness, psychic skills and abilities, enhances intuition, and is said to guide you to be accurate in depicting psychic experiences. It is also an excellent stone for meditation, allowing you to enter a meditative state easily. It can enhance prophesy and divination. Azurite is said to help control energy flow and bring just the right amount of energy to any situation. Physically, azurite is professed by folklore to be helpful for healing in general, cancer prevension, liver issues arthritis, joint problems, depression, sinuses, skin problems.